Gary Richards, Mr. Roadshow, takes questions on Bay Area roads and traffic during a live online chat most Wednesdays. Click here for the Roadshow Q&A columns.

Thanks, Paul. You and Laura have special plans?

By the way Gary, I've missed a few times to say Merry or Happy this or that, but I hope all is well with you and the family and I know who your favorite Valentine is and wish you two the best tomorrow and in the future! Say hi to Jan for me and wish her a happy Valentine's Day. I'm still reading and enjoying the chats and column

-Paul H

OK, folks. Back to work. It's been fun today

The kitty is spoiled and will get lots of love when it comes home. It needed all the things to make sure it stays healthy and we're getting it fixed because we don't want to bring kittens into the world that we can't keep and can't find a home for.

-Paul H

Should the question ever arise as to whose cat it is; the answer is it is Laura's cat! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

-Paul H

Paul, I have cats that go to the vet every year, and more if one gets sick. Mine always howl all the way there and all the way home. And the grudge lasts about 2 days. Offering catnip and/or a treat when you get yours home might help.

-Teri

Cats do hold grudges

The wife made me take the cat that chose to live with us to the vet this morning. It had never been in a carrier or ridden in a car. It was not happy! It meowed all the way there. I hope she and I can bring it home together. I wonder if it will still be my friend afterwards or if it will steer clear of me because of the experience.

-Paul H

My Jeep is 42 now and though it doesn't look as good as it did, I still love driving it more than anything else, though I miss driving the trucks from when I was working. The Jeep is getting up around 300,000 miles and I just keep it going.

-Paul H

OK, I'll call it one datapoint.

-Teri

It varies, Some get 250,000 miles

And RIP Prius battery. A coworker was asking me the other day if I knew how long batteries in electric/hybrid vehicles lasted.

-Teri

Many folks agree with youI see that I've forgotten how to spell! I still believe that the driving age should be 18. You become a legal adult at that age and it changes the whole issue of responsibility for your actions.

-Paul H

Totally agree with Paul about the car color/failure to turn on lights statement. I've nearly hit a couple of fools in dark cars with no lights. In my opinion, the car makers share blame by making the dash lights full-time instead of having them come on with the headlights.

-Teri

The electric battery on our Prius has died at 160,000 miles. We likely will replace it & give it to our son.

All the usual such as: Speeding, tailgating, phone usage, lack of turn signal usage, wipers on without lights on passing illegally and other bad things. Their seems to be a direct correlation between cars that don't turn on their lights when needed and cars having colors that aren't very visible in low visibility conditions.

-Paul H

AS soon as it warm up stays dry

hey now, any idea when repairs will begin for our roads?

-Rodney

ROAD BOULDER ALERT!

I'm going to butt in with an answer to Paul's question: You name it, they do it: speeding, phones, crazy lane changes, HOV lane violations...and my favorite, the ones that sit in the #2 lane (#1 being HOV) and go 40 while yakking away on a cell phone. Grrr.

-Teri

Yes, $162 doesn't seem like a lot

I see lots of people driving while using their phone up here. The ticket should cost much more, then we would see if they are still willing to pay to play.

-Paul H

We went to a service for a friend at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery a few days ago. They give our servicemen the kind of honor they deserve. Afterwards we went to Vacaville. It has been a while since I've gotten this far west and I was not surprised at how badly drivers on all the roads behaved, even on the dangerous two lane roads. It's just sad that people can't be better drivers.

-Paul H

What bad behavior did drivers exhibit?aaarrrggggghh

We went to a service for a friend at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery a few days ago. They give our servicemen the kind of honor they deserve. Afterwards we went to Vacaville. It has been a while since I've gotten this far west and I was not surprised at how badly drivers on all the roads behaved, even on the dangerous two lane roads. It's just sad that people can't be better drivers.

-Paul H

Dunno, but I will check

Gary, any chance of the CHP / local agencies doing a cell-phone enforcement any time soon? 237 is getting bad.

-Teri

Good to hear from you again

Hi Gary, it's been a while.

-Teri

Testing didn't really start until late last year.

I understand the whole "we're doing our best" message, but really - why does it take 2 years to test the San Jose Bart extension? The average Joe (or in my case, Dave) feels like perhaps these people don't have much of a sense of urgency...

-Dave M, Fremont

The congested traffic always clears up where the highway becomes four lanes and divides going NB/SB 880.

-Chris L, Castro Valley

Sorry, not used to this system.

-Chris L, Castro Valley

I don't have much to say about road problems because most of my thoughts are put into words by your readers. And yes, It's fun playing with trains, especially our real ones.

-Paul H

WB 238 guy, please send me your name city where you live

3 lanes are almost always congested due to merging traffic.First northbound foothill, then southbound 580, then E 14th.I think there's room for 4 lanes, but they didn't because of one spot (about 260 yards) where they'd have to eliminate the right shoulder.

-Any chance Caltrans plans to widen westbound 238?

Trains are fun

We're doing well. She goes to work in San Andreas and I go to Railtown and play with trains.

-Paul H

Good friends moved to Truckee a few weeks ago have had 40 feet of snow!!

We've had an unusual amount of snow and the weather has caused lots of problems. We're seeing lots of downed trees on the road and other things that make you not want to go out. I had Laura buys chains to keep in her car just in case the roads are too icy.

-Paul H

Doing OK. Grandson is a lot fun. I likely will need cataract surgery. but am actually looking forward to it. Vision has not been good. And you?

Hi Gary, How are you and the family? I'm home because it just isn't fun work outdoors in this weather.

Gary Richards has covered traffic and transportation in the Bay Area as Mr. Roadshow since 1992. Prior to that he was an assistant sports editor at the paper from 1984-1987. He started his journalism career as a sports editor in Iowa in 1975.